THE Sarawak government, through the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development is exploring the establishment of medical and nursing faculties in its state-owned universities as part of long-term efforts to address the shortage of doctors and nurses in the state.
Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said a feasibility study is currently underway to assess the suitability of setting up the faculties, in line with the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) which begins next year.
“Medicine is one of the degree programmes planned under FTES, and the government is carefully studying the establishment of medical and nursing faculties in state-owned institutions,” he said in a written reply to Saffiee Ahmad (GPS-Daro) during question time in the State Legislative Assembly today.
Dr Annuar added that existing institutions such as ILKKM Kuching, ILKKM Sibu, ILKKM Serian and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) continue to offer recognised health sciences programmes at diploma and degree levels.
He also highlighted several financial assistance options available for Sarawak students pursuing medicine, including the Yayasan Sarawak Education Loan, the UNIMAS Medical Programme Special Scholarship and the Tun Taib STEM-focused scholarship.
On collaboration, Dr Annuar said the state recognises the importance of strategic partnerships with universities such as UNIMAS and UiTM, as well as higher learning institutions abroad, to ensure any future medical or nursing faculty meets accreditation and clinical training standards.
“At the same time, the state government is expanding scholarship schemes to strengthen the pipeline of local healthcare professionals,” he said.
Dr Annuar also revealed that Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS) is conducting its own feasibility study on establishing a medical faculty.
